Window-screen.



D. H. WERTZ.

WINDOW SCREEN. APPLICATION man OCT. 16. 1916.

1,279,625. Patented Sept. 24, 1918.,

P U I .Z 5 "W 2 g z w i F UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUFF H. WER'IZ, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO VIOLA MUEI-IL, OF ST. LOUIS,

. MISSOURI.

WINDOW-SCREEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

Application filed October 16, 1916. Serial No. 125,94L

body portion of the frame to clamp and hold I the screening material, for securing the latter in the frame.

In order that such screens may be made at a sufficiently low cost of production, it is important that the parts of the frame should be of a cross-sectional form adapting them to be readily shaped and produced in one operation from suitable metal blanks. It is also necessary to the proper and efficient op.-. eration of such devices that the opposed faces of the frame and clamping piece, which cooperate to clamp the fabric between them, should grasp and securely hold the fabric without breaking or otherwise injuring the latter and that the parts should be susceptible of ready manipulation in the operations of connecting the fabric within and of removing the same from the frame. Screens of this type as heretofore constructed fail in one or more particulars to meet the above noted requirements and, therefore, these prior devices have, to a greater or lesser extent, proven objectionable and defective for practical purposes.

This invention has among its objects therefore, to improve upon such prior structures by providing a simplified form: of screenframe which may be inexpensively produced and one wherein the parts of the frame may be readily and securely engaged with and removed from the fabric without damaging the latter.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a screen of this character in which the clamping piece may be readily sprung into and out of clamping position within the frame, and one wherein the clamping piece will, when thus positioned, be securely locked along both edges against accidental displacement.

Another object of the invention, is to avoid, in such a screen, the presentation of abrupt, sharp faces in opposition to the tensile stress on the fabric at the point or points of engagement of the latter with-the frame.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a screen embodying the invention, showing the same applied for use;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, the section being taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of one cornor of the screen frame, viewed from oppo-' site sides and with the clamping piece removed; and,

Fig; -5 is an enlarged detail View, in section, of the frame, showing the manner of clamping the screen fabric therein.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a window frame or casing provided 'with vertical screen guides or rails 2, these parts,

which are conventionally shown for purposes of illustration, being of the usual or any suitable construction and material.

The improved screen, which constitutes the subject-matter of this invention, com

prisesa metal frame 3 and a sheet of wire gauze or other screening fabric 4, secured in said frame by means of clamping members or pieces 5 formed and adapted for cooperation with the main body portion of the frame to engage and hold the fabric. As the frame 3, which is of suitable size and proportions to fit snugly within the window casing 1, is of rectangular form, it will be understood that there are four of the clamping pieces 5, adapted respectively to the several sides of the frame and that the ends of these clamping pieces are suitably mitered to properly coincide with each other at the corners of the frame.

The frame 8, whose front face is given the form of a simple ogee molding, is provided along its inner and outer edges, as seen more clearly in Figs. 2 and 5, with rearwardly projecting flanges 6 and 7, respectively. The flange 6 is of concave-convex form in crosssection and has its convex face disposed inwardly to present a rounded bearing surface for the fabric 4, while the flange? is shaped to provide a substantially half-round concavo-convex rib or bead 8 having its concaved face presented outwardly to receive the adjacent screen guides or rails 2. The frame 3 is made up of four of the framemembers or bars having their meeting ends suitably united at the corners of the frame, it being understood that these bars are properly pressed or shaped between rolls, or

otherwise, to give them the cross-sectional form shown, prior to uniting them to form the frame.

The clamping members 5, which form the rear face of the frame, are each provided along its inner and outer edges with forwardly projecting flanges 9 and 10, respectively, these flanges being of concavo-convex form in cross-section and having their concaved faces disposed outwardly, as shown, adapting the flange 9 to conform to and cooperate with the flange 6 for clamping engagement with the fabric, and the flange 10 to snap into interlocking engagement with the rib 8 to which it conforms.

It is apparent that under this construction, the fabric 4 may, by being cut to a size to project beyond the inner edges of the frame, be readily secured in place within the latter, by the simple operation of snapping the clamping pieces 5 into position.

with the fabric clampedbetween the'flanges 6 and 9 and the flange l0 interlocked with the portion 8 of flange 7 It will be noted on reference to Fig. 5, that in arranging the members 5 in active clamping position with: in the frame, the flange 9 is first properly seated over the fabric on the flange 6 and the flange 1O thereafter snapped into place on the flange 7, this being accomplished by pressing the outer edge of the clamping member inward toward the frame. Furthermore, it will be observed that the curvature of the flange 6 follows the general direction of the tensile stress on the fabric,

thus avoiding abrupt bending and breaking of the fabric at the point of engagement with the screen frame. The clamping pieces can be readily removed by a suitable tool so as to permit removal and replacement of the fabric.

It will also be observed that the flanges borne by the frame and clamping pieces are aeraeae substantially perpendicular to the surface planeof the frame. The said parts are therefore, adapted to be formed each in a single, simple o eration, as by passing suitable metal blanlfs endwise between pressing rolls of proper form, as will be readily understood.

The mitered ends of the main frame pieces 3 are, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, fitted together edgewise at the corners of the frame, and united by means of corner pieces 11 applied inside of theframe and attached by soldering, welding or otherwise, whereby smooth, even joints are formed and a practically integral frame is inexpensively produced. 1

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the stated objects of the invention are attained, it being understood that in attaining these ends, various changes in the form, proportions and similar minor details of the device, may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A window screen comprising, a metal frame, a sheet of screen fabric secured therein, said frame embodying a main body portion provided with rearwardly projecting inner and outer marginal flanges having convexed inner bearing faces, and a removable clamping piece provided with forwardly projecting inner and outer flanges having concaved outer faces formed to coincide with the convexed inner faces of said first named flanges, adapting the clamping piece to snap into interlocked engagement with said frame, with the fabric clamped between the cooperating inner flanges on said parts, the line of curvature of the flanges followingthe general direction of the tensile stress on the fabric, a pair of said outer flanges on said main body portion being adapted to provide guide channels for receiving and cooperating with screen guides.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature this 20th day of May, 1916.

DUFF H. WERTZ. 

